Good evening, and thank you for the opportunity to be here.
On April 1, 2018, the education and training benefit was introduced. The ETB is a taxable benefit that provides up to $40,960 in funding for veterans with at least six years, or 2,191 authorized paid days, of Canadian Armed Forces service, and up to $81,920 for veterans with at least 12 years, or 4,382 authorized paid days, of CAF service. This covers tuition, fees, supplies and some incidental and living expenses for participants when they are attending school.
Currently, the ETB is not available to supplementary reserve members; however, due to a lack of educational and training opportunities for veterans who are supplementary reserve members, VAC will expand access to the ETB for these persons. This approach will help to ensure that veterans who are supplementary reserve members do not have to choose between remaining as part of the supplementary reserve or receiving the education and training benefit. Expansion of the ETB to supplementary reserve members will be implemented on July 5, 2019.
Thank you.